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Escape from disaster

A copter crash results in only minor injuries for the two on board

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 06, 2009

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A helicopter on a routine trip crashed on a steep and narrow section of Waialae Iki Ridge yesterday morning, but the pilot and passenger on board suffered only minor injuries.

Army helicopter makes emergency landing

Army aviators made a precautionary landing on the North Shore at about 5:30 p.m. yesterday after smelling fumes in the helicopter.

Two 25th Infantry Division soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, safely landed the OH-58 Kiowa on an old airstrip between Haleiwa Beach Park and Laniakea Beach.

There was no reported damage or injury to the aircraft, flight crew or surrounding area.

Army mechanics responded to the scene, and the aircraft was returned to Wheeler Army Airfield.

The passenger, Cris Caughill, chief engineer for Cox Radio Hawaii, was on his way to conduct routine maintenance on the company's radio transmission facility near the top of Wiliwilinui Trail.

The helicopter, operated by Makani Kai Helicopter Tours, reached the narrow landing spot when suddenly "something happened," according to Caughill, forcing the pilot to made a hard landing at about 10:40 a.m.

The helicopter was about 10 to 15 feet above the ground when the pilot reacted, Caughill said. The pilot tried to pull the helicopter up and away from the ridge, but the chopper was too close and landed hard on the ground before rolling onto its right side.

"We didn't get any warning," said Caughill, 38. "I was looking at the landing spot, then all of a sudden, I was dangling upside down, suspended by my seat belt and looking at the sky. It was so fast."

The pilot was identified as Eiki Miyasato, 55, a 16-year veteran of the company.

[Preview] Chopper Makes Hard Landing Above Waialae Iki
[Preview]
 

The helicopter's crew was performing routine maintenance to a tv and radio transmitter atop the ridge.

[ Watch ]

 
In partnership with KITV.com
Honolulu firefighters and police officers reached the crash scene about 20 minutes later. At 11:30 a.m. the firefighters transported Caughill and Miyasato to Waialae Iki Park.

"It's fortunate they weren't entrapped or injured by the landing," said fire Capt. Terry Seelig.

Several firefighters told Miyasato, "Great landing," as they left the park.

Richard Schuman, owner of Makani Kai Helicopter, said the company has already hired a salvage crew to recover the chopper, perhaps as early as today if weather permits.

"They send a team to rig it up, and they bring in another helicopter to bring it off the mountain," he said.

He said the company also is working with investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board.

Caughill said he has been making the same trip about once a month for 22 years.

"I feel really lucky that it didn't turn out any worse than it could have," Caughill said. "I'm glad we're still here."

A helicopter on a routine trip crashed on a steep and narrow section of Waialae Iki Ridge yesterday morning, but the pilot and passenger on board suffered only minor injuries.

COURTESY MELISSA LAWRENCE / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN
Hiker Henry Lawrence looked at a downed helicopter yesterday along Wiliwilinui Trail above Waialae Iki. The pilot and passenger aboard the Makani Kai Helicopter Tours craft did not appear to be hurt, fire officials said. The copter was headed to a radio transmission facility atop Waialae Iki Ridge that needed technical work when the crash happened. The accident was one of three on Oahu yesterday involving emergency landings but no injuries: A small plane malfunctioned at Honolulu Airport in the morning, then an Army helicopter came down abruptly near Kamehameha Highway in Waialua in the afternoon.

Army helicopter makes emergency landing

Army aviators made a precautionary landing on the North Shore at about 5:30 p.m. yesterday after smelling fumes in the helicopter.

Two 25th Infantry Division soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, safely landed the OH-58 Kiowa on an old airstrip between Haleiwa Beach Park and Laniakea Beach.

There was no reported damage or injury to the aircraft, flight crew or surrounding area.

Army mechanics responded to the scene, and the aircraft was returned to Wheeler Army Airfield.
The passenger, Cris Caughill, chief engineer for Cox Radio Hawaii, was on his way to conduct routine maintenance on the company's radio transmission facility near the top of Wiliwilinui Trail.

The helicopter, operated by Makani Kai Helicopter Tours, reached the narrow landing spot when suddenly "something happened," according to Caughill, forcing the pilot to made a hard landing at about 10:40 a.m.

The helicopter was about 10 to 15 feet above the ground when the pilot reacted, Caughill said. The pilot tried to pull the helicopter up and away from the ridge, but the chopper was too close and landed hard on the ground before rolling onto its right side.

"We didn't get any warning," said Caughill, 38. "I was looking at the landing spot, then all of a sudden, I was dangling upside down, suspended by my seat belt and looking at the sky. It was so fast."

The pilot was identified as Eiki Miyasato, 55, a 16-year veteran of the company.

[Preview] Chopper Makes Hard Landing Above Waialae Iki
[Preview]
 

The helicopter's crew was performing routine maintenance to a tv and radio transmitter atop the ridge.

[ Watch ]

 
In partnership with KITV.com
Honolulu firefighters and police officers reached the crash scene about 20 minutes later. At 11:30 a.m. the firefighters transported Caughill and Miyasato to Waialae Iki Park.

"It's fortunate they weren't entrapped or injured by the landing," said fire Capt. Terry Seelig.

Several firefighters told Miyasato, "Great landing," as they left the park.

Richard Schuman, owner of Makani Kai Helicopter, said the company has already hired a salvage crew to recover the chopper, perhaps as early as today if weather permits.

"They send a team to rig it up, and they bring in another helicopter to bring it off the mountain," he said.

He said the company also is working with investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board.

Caughill said he has been making the same trip about once a month for 22 years.

"I feel really lucky that it didn't turn out any worse than it could have," Caughill said. "I'm glad we're still here."

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